MEMORANDA ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 318, 17 November 1855, Page 8

MEMORANDA ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE WAR.

From the " Home News." Scene at Gheisk.—The boats were armed early in tbe morning, ready to go in. and a flag of truce was sent forward, as usual. About noon tbe boat with the flag of truce returned, saying that no resistance would be attempted. Accordingly, only a few officers went in, with some Marines and a party of French, to bum and destroy whatever Government stores might be there. On landing they were met by the commandant and his staff dressed in uniform, and found there horses and carriages waiting. Part of them mounted, and went to burn a quantity of haystacks on the cliff, which were destined for the Ciimea ; others were taken in a caliche to the commandant's house, accompanied by a few Marines, for whom a vehicle was also provided. The commandant took them round the town, showed them the stores, and had the doors forcibly opened wherever they were found locked. He. caused the grain, &c. to be conveyed outside the town, and provided tar barrels to make it burn quicker. The highly polite reception we met with here caused some surprise and pleasure, and a little suspicion. Perhaps, having been forcibly deprived by the Government of their property for the benefit of the Russian army, and finding that army unable to protect them, they did not care whether it was destroyed by us, or'sent to the Crimea. I believe that it is a novel feature in warfare for the weaker party to send, unasked, carriages and horses for the stronger to drive about in. At all events, it is a practice highly to he recommended.

The Tastes of the French.—Here (at Kertch) the very first house, which purported to be the "labka" or store of a certain Porporoff, was the scene of a somewhat ridiculous confusion. The door was broken open, and a number of active little Frenchmen, helped by a few heavy perspiring Turks, were hauling off large sacks of biscuits. There was nothing objectionable in this, as the biscuit had been duly paid for, and was to be served as rations to the men. "Je ne suis pas Russe, moi ; mais j'aime beaucoup le biscuit Russe," was the explanation of the corporal, who was superintending the transport of the article. The great object of the proprietors was to save the lighter delicacies from tbe lioticeofiheirvisitors.for they well divined the partiality of the Frenchmen for'many of their poods which the " Intendance" does not furnish. ACCordin,gly,in a back store,easy to be overlooked, was stoweda way a quanlityof excellent loafsugar in its usual blue covering. The Frenchmen, however, managed to discover it, and a rush was made into the recess. Presently a dozen emerged, -creaming, with triumph, each bearing on his shoulder one of the conical masses. To obey orders, or to ease iheir consciences, they began to offer payment for the goods, but in no case did the proff.-red recompense exceed three francs for a loaf. The proprietor indignantly refused to accept an inadequate amount for his wares; and the French, deeming all laws military aud moral to have been fulfilled by a ten der of payment, immediately b^an to'bear off their booty without more ado. Porporoff, however, was not to be so imposed upon. Armed with a cudgel he pursued the plunderers, attacked three of them at once, and captured as mam loav,-s of sugar. The reft, however, was l*.-rne off in triumph. The crowd, both French am! lvngli-h, looked peacefully on, and rather admired the spirit of the valiant grocer, whose shop, when we went back, was under the protectection of a couple of blue jackets from the Cuarleinagne.

A Diplomatic PnisoNicß.—A correspondent in the East writes:— ,l it very young and pleasing Russian officer was lately made prisoner by the English, and by his engaging manners very soon became a favourite. He j s very accomplished, appears to have a good supply of cash, aud with great dexterity mails himself of every opportunity to (latter the English; at the same time he cieverly takes every chance of insinuating something or other derogatory to the French ; and evidently does all in his power to create a bad feeling among the allies; and with some skill shows what wonders they would do as allies, asstuing his auditors that the Russians, to a man, are fond of the English. This gentleman lias been sent to England. I have heard of several prisoners who have acted nearly the same. Ii has often struck tne when in company with this sort of Russian prisoners, that they have been sent prisoners intentionally by the Russians, for the purpose of creating a party in their favour in England."

A Sad Tragedy.—On the 22nd ult., a body of the 25th regiment of the French line were marching down to relieve the picket in the Karabelnaia ravine. On the way Lieut. Driant reprimanded a soldier, who was partly intoxicated. Scarcely had ilheen given, when the man turned round and replied, " Lieutenant, you have punished me often enough ; you shall punish me no more,'' and raising the musket to his shoulder, shot the lieutenant in the breast. The lieutenant was conveyed to the nearest English hospital, where he shortly died, and his murderer lo head-quarters. The general in command, after a brief examination, condemned him to be shot, and his execution took place. Half an hour scarcely elapsed between thepcrpetration of the crime and the execution ol the criminal. The soldier had become sober immediately after committing the murder. He had seen 18 years' service, and was spoken of as a brave and able man.

An Ally in Sebastopol.—Disease to all appearance, is doing its work amongst the defenders of this devoted town. In the sloping graveyard at the east end of tbe haibour, planted with innumerable crosses, small parties of twos and threes were wandering on no unexplained errand. For some time past there have been large parties constantly engaged in the labour of interment—a fact which encourages the presumption of disease telling as much, or more, upon the enemy's strength as it has done latterly upon our own, especially in and near Balaklava. Any way, the work in that kind is not likely soon to cease. There is little doubt in spite of the obstinacy displayed, that the garrison are sick of ihe^r commission. A Russian officer fell into conversation with one of our men, and, giving him his card, said," I wish this was all over, and we were good friends again ; we are tired enough, but our orders are to fight it ont to the last." At the temination, too, of the armistice, there was some signs of insubordination among the men who were in contiguity with ours.

Bold Case of Desertion.—The 4th Regiment of cavalry of R.iumelia was doing duly at tbe outposts round the walls- of Eupatoria. On the side of the bridge which forms the extreme right ofour vidette line, the two videttes are placed on a little mound, not more than 100 yards from the bridge. About 50 yards from them is a post of 15 or 20 men, under a sergeant, and further back the squadron. About noon the corporal of the advanced post went coolly to the sergeant and asked him for a light for his cigarette. Tbe sergeant had none, coo. Rcquently the corporal requested the sergeant toW : allow him to mount bis horse and go to the videttes to ask one of them for it. The permission was given, the corporal went up to ihe mound where the videttes were placed, and a, moment afterwards all three set off in a gallop and went over the bridge which forms the boundary line between the Russian and Turkish line of outposts. The sergeant, seeing this, instantly ordered his men to mount, and dashed down at iheir head to the bridge, but il was too late ; tbe fugitives had passed. The Russians, seeing the pursuers and pursued coming in a gallop towards the bridge thought that it was an attack ; they mounted their steeds and ran off towards their main guard. But when they saw the three dismounl, and the rest stopping at the side of the bridge, they returned and took the deserters away. This is the second case of desertion which has occurred since the Turks have been in the Crimea.